Perfection! City skipper Kompany desperate for Van Persie to join the champions

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has hailed Robin van Persie as 'incredible' and 'near perfection' as the race hots up for the Arsenal captain.

The Premier League champions are currently fighting it out for the Gunners star with rivals United and Italian champions Juventus.

Van Persie released a statement earlier this month in which he questioned the ambition of his current club, a move which effectively brought an end to seven years in north London, during which time he has won just a solitary FA Cup.

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That sparked a scramble for his signature, with all three interested parties seeing early bids rejected for the Dutch star, whose contract is up at the end of the new season.

And Kompany believes City should be doing all they can to ensure Van Persie is playing with him, rather than against him when their title defence starts on August 19 against Southampton.

The club captain, who signed a new six-year deal earlier this month, said: 'He is a player who has improved so much. I started playing against him five or six years ago, but his performances last season were unbelievable.

Making progress: Vincent Kompany is hopeful Man City will sign Robin van Persie

'A player like this would be an incredible addition to any team that he joined. His movement is near perfection and the stats show his finishing. He has led by example at Arsenal, so yes, he is a great player.'

Arsenal remain adamant they will not sell their captain - a year after they did just that when Cesc Fabregas returned to Barcelona for £35m - but know the controversial statement did irreparable damage to the player's reputation among fans.

Kompany added: 'I think we will improve anyway, whether we need new players is up to the manager. I only know that, even if we don’t, we will improve naturally anyway.'